April 2019 | Caravan Sonnet

December Caravan Re-Opening June 1st

April 22, 2019

Dear friends, If you have been around the December Caravan shop for the last 6 years then you may remember that I take a "creative retreat" away every year in the Spring as we prepare to move into the cabin for the summer. This year I decided to start that early and will be re-opening the shop on June 1st with lots of new goodies!

This time away is always a bittersweet treasure as I plan my upcoming year, decide on new bespoke journal patterns, and plan for the fall and Christmas holidays, but I definitely miss the shop community!

Thank you so much for your sweet support of my shop and all my artistic creations! The shop will re-open on Saturday, June 1st and I will share about the re-opening here on the blog! 
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Happy Easter Weekend

April 19, 2019

Dearest Friends, as we celebrate this precious weekend of remembering Christ's extravagant work on the cross to save us, may you be blessed with the knowledge that Christ is risen, draw comfort in the truth that our sufferings are temporary, and rejoice in the miraculous hope of our risen Lord!
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Jay Falls // Jay, New York

April 17, 2019

Happy Wednesday friends! I hope that you are having a wonderful week! Today I am so excited to share with y'all a bit more about the #ADK50falls challenge and specifically about Jay Falls, the waterfall I mentioned on Monday that I went to see this past weekend as the first falls in the challenge!

If you aren't familiar with the #ADK50falls challenge, you can read about the entire challenge HERE, but simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. Participating in this is so fun and exciting and I am looking forward to doing this and the another challenge I will share more about in the next few weeks. 

If you would like to know just basic facts about the falls please just scroll down to the bottom of the post where I will be sharing basic information to help those who want to know more specifics about each of the falls in the challenge.
Jay Falls is located in Jay, New York and is approximately 25 minutes from Lake Placid. The falls are broad falls and are easy to see from the parking spots (the pictures above were all taken from right outside my car). 
Located right above Jay Falls is the Jay Covered Bridge which is the only covered bridge remaining in Essex County. It was built in 1857 and was rehabilitated in 2006. You can easily walk across it and see the falls from the windows or walk to the other side and see more views of the falls from the other side of the bridge. 
The pictures above are from the left side of the bridge. Some of the pictures were taken from the parking spots on that side and then I also climbed down (about 3 feet) to be closer to the water to take a few more. 
After walking back across the bridge to return to my car and parking area I decided to follow a little path down to get closer to the falls. The path down is about 15 feet down and it leads you to some huge rocks that you can sit on to be close to the falls and sit there. 

I saw that there was a tiny path that continued on and decided to follow it up to the top of the falls. Along the way someone had placed some rocks to use as stepping stones to cross the stream that flows into the river. Aren't they so cute? *smiles*
I saw this in one of the rocks as I walked along and wondered what it was used for? Maybe to tie things up? It was pretty far away from the river so it made me definitely curious!
The top of the falls were simply gorgeous and I sat for a long time just listening to the water and appreciating the beauty around me. I can't recommend a visit to Jay Falls enough and hope that y'all will join in on this very fun challenge!
When I was extremely sick I used to grieve not being able to be outside in nature as much as I wanted to be and if this is where you are at due to health reasons I hope that the information I provide about each of the falls in this challenge will encourage you to explore as you are able.
..
......JAY FALLS INFORMATION......

LOCATION: 
38 John Fountain Road, Jay, NY 12941 (approx. 50 minutes from Plattsburgh // 25 from Lake Placid)

TYPE OF FALLS: 
20 foot falls (broad set)

KEY LANDMARKS: 
Jay Covered Bridge (Built in 1857- rehabilitated in 2006) - only covered bridge remaining in Essex County

COST: 
Free

PARKING: 
Very small parking area. There were 3 parking spots on each side of the Jay Bridge (including 1 disability parking spot on each side). 

CROWDED?: 
No. I arrived at the falls around noon on a Saturday in April and only saw two other people while I was there. At one point I had the entire area to myself. 

DISTANCE TO FALLS FROM PARKING AREA: 
None. You can see the falls from the parking spots (on either side of the river). If you want to get closer to the falls you can walk down from the parking lot and explore a bit along the river.

DISABILITY FRIENDY?: 
Yes. The parking includes space for those with tags, but the great thing is that you can enjoy these falls even if you can't get out of the car. You will be able to see a view of them from the parking area. If you are able to, you only have to walk approx. 50 feet to the bridge. There are also benches to sit on both sides of the river.

You can see a couple of videos of Jay Falls on my stories on Instagram (click the #adk50falls icon)!

Thank you so much for reading today friends! Please let me know if you have any questions about the challenge or Jay Falls! I am happy to answer and can't wait to hear about your waterfall adventures! Have a wonderful day!
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What to Pack for an Alaskan Summer Road Trip

April 16, 2019

When I first decided to take the writing job about a road trip en I first decided to take the writing job about a road trip through Alaska in the summer of 2018 I was so excited that I didn't think much about some of the practical details that would come with this trip. It had always been a dream of mine to go to Alaska (I even wrote on the blog in the summer of 2017 about why you should dream about a trip to the Last Frontier) and to see it come to fruition had me giddy with anticipation.  

As the trip approached though I started to think practically about what to pack for an Alaskan summer road trip. I have been so blessed to travel to so many different places but I also knew that packing for this trip would need to be different. I searched pinterest for ideas but struggled to find answers. There were hundreds of posts on what to pack for an Alaskan cruise, but not for a road trip. I spoke with anyone I could find that had taken a road trip, had lived in Alaska, or had visited at the time of year we were going and tried to develop a practical packing list.

The reality is that with a nickname like "The Last Frontier" you know that you are going to be in for the adventure of a lifetime. Alaska defines what it means to be "wild and free" and I knew that I wanted what I packed to be as practical and unencumbered as I imagined the trip would be. If you are heading on an Alaskan road trip and are wondering what to bring I hope that these ideas will be helpful for your adventure! 
Luggage Items
As a bit of background, I shared on my instagram feed a few days before I left for the trip that I was determined to live fully in the adventure I was going on and didn't want to be loaded down with lots of luggage and clothing. Due to this and because I am a classic "over-packer" and because I am still in treatment and need to bring lots of items for this with me (even when I travel for work) this meant there was limited room and limited items to take and yet I made it my goal to only take a carry-on. But you know what friends? It was wonderful. 

I traveled for 10 days (across the country to California where it was incredibly hot to Alaska where the temps varied back to California before heading home to New York) and had one carry-on suitcase and my purse. It was awesome. No more dreading how far the room is because I am trying to carry tons of bags, no more waiting for luggage at the carousal or worrying it may get lost in the travels, no more extra items that I didn't really need, and no more struggles of loading and unloading a huge suitcase. 
Delsey Luggage Chatelet- 21 Inch Carry On (Champagne)
I have had many carry-on suitcases over the years but can't recommend this one, by Delsey, enough. I had seen several bloggers that I follow recommend this luggage and was a bit shell-shocked at the price. Over this past year I tried several other cheaper carry-on luggage options and was disappointed with each of them for various reasons. Finally, I found this carry-on on sale on Amazon and purchased it.

 Friends, save your money on the cheaper options and purchase this carry-on when it goes on sale. It is worth every. single. penny. This is a carry-on that I plan to have for years and I have been so impressed with the quality of it, the durability, and the way it cleans up so easily and looks brand new even though it is white. It holds tons of items and you will be amazed at all you are able to pack in it. (Again, I traveled for 10 days and everything I am recommending traveled with me!) If you are interested in the suitcase you can find it on Amazon HERE. 
BCBGMAXAZRIA Handbag (similar HERE and HERE)
Those of you who know me know that I have a little love affair with purses. *smiles* I have had many over the years, and love large purses- especially for traveling. For this trip I was specifically looking for a purse that I felt would "fit" the climate and the elements and that would be a neutral based color to easily match the clothes I was wearing. I also wanted a purse that was leather that could transition easily into fall. I saw the purse above and immediately fell in love with the color tone and the size of it. While it is no longer available (you could definitely try Poshmark or Ebay if you want the exact purse) these: HERE and HERE are similar in idea and size!
Sturdy Purse Organizer
I first read about this organizer on Caitlin's blog (and loved this picture of hers) but was a bit skeptical of how well it would work. I was also getting tired of needing to search my purse for items and feeling desperate to organize my purse- not just for the trip but in general. hahaha! This honestly has been something that I have started talking about non-stop and telling everyone about. Just the other day I was telling two friends that they needed to get one! It is life-changing! Hahaha! 

This felt organizer (I chose the beige color so that it will go with any of my purses!) comes in 11 different colors and is less than $20 on Amazon (you can find it HERE). I love that I can easily switch purses now just by taking this out and changing it from one purse to another. SO simple and easy! Even if you don't travel a lot you will love it for daily life (for size reference I chose a medium)! For traveling mine was loaded up with tons of items and it was the easiest trip in the airports because of how organized it kept things in my purse! I honestly plan to do a whole post on this because it is so wonderful! Thanks so much Caitlin for the suggestion! If you are interested in it you can find it HERE! 
Tech Items
Here are all of the technology items that I brought along for the trip!

 Camera
I used my phone for pictures alone with my camera. I have the Canon EOS Rebel T5i and absolutely love it. I purchased it a couple of years ago in 2016 and am always amazed by the quality of the photos it takes. I love this SD card HERE (it's less than $20)

 Some additional suggestions...
Portable Battery Pack
Shoes
I debated and debated about what type of shoes to bring along on my trip and finally settled on my hiking shoes, brown boots, and one pair of sandals. Honestly if I had to do it again I wouldn't bring my brown boots because I lived in my hiking shoes and sandals the entire trip! 

Merrell Women's Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot
I can't say enough about these hiking boots (pictured above) and plan to do an entire post about them in the future. They are absolutely phenomenal and the best pair of hiking shoes I have ever owned. They are completely waterproof (I even walked in water that was about 2 inches deep one day for quite a while and my feet stayed dry), they are incredibly comfortable and give great support... and need absolutely NO breaking in! I will be honest- I purchased this new pair right before my trip and didn't wear them once before the trip. The first day of wearing them I wore them for 12 hours and walked about 5 miles. No blisters, no discomfort... just the perfect shoes. I lived in them in Alaska and love them! If you are looking for a new pair of hiking shoes for the fall you will want to get these! (You can find them HERE!)
Teeks Sandals (Cocobutter)
I have fallen in love with these sandals this summer and love the simplicity and yet the "put together" look of these leather sandals. They are so incredibly comfortable and you can find them HERE! ALSO- I found a pair of sandals with an almost exact look of these from Torrid and have worn them a ton this summer. They are a fraction of the price (on sale right now on the Torrid website) and are incredibly comfortable! They also come in black! 

 Some additional suggestions that I considered... 
*THIS pair of TOMS shoes- many people have said that they love traveling with them, but I just didn't feel that they were necessary for this trip. This could be an excellent substitute for those who don't want to take sandals. 
*Hunter Rain Boots - I really wanted to take along a pair of rain boots for the weather or for walking in rain, but couldn't fit them in and found that the Merrell Women's Moab 2 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot worked just fine. If you aren't planning on hiking a lot or wanting the hiking boots this might be a great solution. 
*a pair of running shoes/sneakers- I debated about this a lot but if you know me than you know I love sandals and ultimately chose to just go with my sandals and Hiking Boots and personally was glad I did. If you don't love sandals than I would definitely recommend a pair of running shoes/sneakers.
Clothing
Because I was working to get everything into one carry-on I made a list of everything I wanted to bring a couple of weeks before the trip and then the week before narrowed it down more. Then a few days before I flew out I narrowed it down again... and again. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough clothes but it honestly worked out to be the perfect amount of clothes for the trip! Remember- this is for a summer Alaskan Road Trip so depending on when you go in the summer your items may vary. I was there from the end of July to the beginning of August. Here is what I packed: 

*1 pair of jeans/jeggings (dark navy) 
*1 pair of hiking/cargo pants (olive green) (similar HERE or HERE or HERE) 
*1 pair of leggings (black) (from ASOS)
*1 pair of shorts (mustard yellow) (older from LOFT)
*1 skirt (black) (older from JCREW)
*1 dress ( white and black) (older from JCREW)
*6 tops (1- blue & white striped, 1- plain white, 1-chambray, 1- mauve, 1- light blue, 1- cream floral/lace)
*3 undershirts
*1- cargo hiking jacket (grey) (similar HERE)
*1 blanket scarf (muted turquoise/green color)
*1 Fringe/Wool Scarf (grey)
*1 winter jacket (black) 
*1 headband (navy and cream)
*3- pairs of socks for hiking boots/1- pair compression socks for travel
*1-hat
*1- pair of gloves
*PJ's
*shoes mentioned previously

 Honestly - I was surprised at how it all worked so well and so easy. I had plenty of clothes to wear that were clean by mixing and matching items and I hand-washed a few personal items along the way. In addition to this because all of the clothes were "color-coded" it allowed me to easily mix and match items and make things work easily. I felt like I ended up creating a "travel capsule wardrobe" for this trip and it was definitely a lesson for future trips to do this again! 

 **one important side note: for my upcoming trip in 2019: I plan to not take the dress or the shorts (both of those things were for my time in California) and I instead plan to take additional hiking clothing**
a few extra items...
*eye mask for sleeping - with the summer hours lasting most of the night you may find this helpful! 
*THIS straightening iron - y'all may remember that I talked about how much I love this specific iron on the blog back in the winter (you can read about it HERE) and it is easy to travel with as it is so lightweight!
* hiking backpack
*travel notebook/journal - y'all know how much I love journaling and preserving memories so this is a definite for me! I can't wait to share with y'all the final journal from this trip!

 Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope that this packing list helps you if you are planning an Alaskan Summer Road Trip! Let me know if you have any questions! I would be happy to answer them! 
PS-  Want to step forward and plan your trip but not sure how? Check out all of the Alaska Road Trip posts from our trip in 2018 which you can find them in the Alaska travel section on my blog by clicking HERE or you can click on the specific links below:

Anchorage: // Anchorage Travel Guide//

Chugach Mountains (Alaska 1-South Drive): 
// Scenic Seward Highway Drive (Turnagain Arm Drive)//
// Along the Matanuska River on Alaska 1- South// A Beautiful Lake Adventure near Chickaloon//
// A Cloudy and Beautiful Drive on Alaska 1-South to Anchorage// 

Chugach Mountains: // Eklutna Lake//

Cooper Landing (Kenai Peninsula): // Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge Nature Trail//
// Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge//

Denali Area: // Denali Highway Video// One Last Adventure on the Denali Highway// 
// Denali Highway - Part 2// Denali Highway - Part 1 // The Drive to Cantwell// 
// Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge // 

General Alaska:
// 5 Things You Must Know Before Driving in Alaska//
// Best Alaskan Books to Purchase for Your Road Trip//
// What to Pack for an Alaskan Summer Road Trip // 
//Why You Should Dream About Visiting Alaska //

Girdwood: // Winner Creek Trail //

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Beautiful Early Spring Weekend

April 15, 2019

Happy Monday friends! I hope you are having a good morning! This past weekend was so full and lovely- and I hope that each of you had a wonderful weekend too! 
I read a quote on Thursday night that has been staying with me... it said, "For love refuses to parade itself...prayer is the highest expression of love- it is pure giving...teach me to love, dear Lord." This has really challenged me in deep ways, specifically for a situation that I am walking through right now. Sometimes it can be easy to think that prayer doesn't do anything...especially in a lot of silence...I am gently reminded and encouraged that it is the highest expression of love... it is a pure giving of time...and of yourself. In that sacrifice you are living in the balance of hope and trust in what is not always seen in the moment.

 On Friday morning my mom and I woke up really early to drive over to Syracuse for the day. I had never been to Syracuse so it was fun to make the trip over. It was a full and long day, but one with lots of laughter and these are moments that I treasure with my mom. We left at about 3:45am and got home around 10pm. A full day, but one with lots of blessings and laughter.
Saturday I woke up and it was the most beautiful Spring day. I have been so struck by the way that Spring is slowly coming to this beautiful area of the world and I am loving the opportunity to be outside more. If you know me well than you know that I am not really affected by weather or seasons per say, but this winter was difficult with not being able to ski and I am excited to be able to see the Spring come and get outside more.
Saturday I started the #ADK50falls challenge and my little heart was so excited. You can read about the entire challenge HERE, but simply put there are 50 waterfalls that you hike and visit (5 require proof with photo that you were there) to complete the challenge. Participating in this is so fun and exciting and I am looking forward to doing this and the another challenge I will share more about in the next few weeks. 

It is such an incredible blessing to be able to be out and spending so much time in the mountains again. It is definitely something that I dreamed about throughout the fight for my health and life and to be at this beginning stages of complete healing now truly leaves me speechless.
The first waterfall that I did was Jay Falls in Jay, New York. It was a bit of a drive, but a very easy waterfall (it is literally right next to the parking spaces) and this was what I was looking for after the long day from the day before. Jay Falls is truly stunning and I will be doing a complete post on it later this week and can't wait to share more with y'all! 

If you want to follow along on Instagram and see all of the falls pictures you can find them in my stories under the #ADK50falls tab *smiles*! I can't wait continue to share more!
After spending time at the falls I decided that I wanted to do some more exploring and a little bit of hiking so I decided to just drive out into the Adirondacks on some roads I had never been on before. It was so beautiful and just traveling onto different roads was an adventure. I came across a beautiful pond and kept taking the roads until they turned dirt and eventually there was a place to pull off on the side of the road(that wasn't on private property) so I hiked down to the pond. Even though I hadn't gone that far into the mountains it was very remote and it was stunningly silent and beautiful.
It was simply gorgeous and it was so good for this heart of mine to get out into the mountains. This beautiful spring weekend made me even more excited about the days and weeks ahead. *smiles*

I can't believe that we are heading into the third week of April y'all! I think I say this with every weekend recap post but this new year seems to be flying so quickly. I want to grab onto the moments and just hold time still in some ways, and yet it continues to march forward and with that I know will come new adventures and joys. 

Did y'all have a good weekend? Did you do anything special this weekend? Happy Monday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful beginning to your new week! If you think about it today I would love some prayers for my mom who is having a minor surgery/procedure done today. Thank you so much friends!
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Hiring A Campervan


Are you planning to take a trip across the United States? A lot of people like to do Route 66, and there is no better way to do this than with a campervan. After all, there are so many places across America that are truly amazing, and a campervan gives you great access to them.Perhaps you are thinking about going to the UK? Devon is an area that attracts a wealth of people year on year. From relaxing weekend breaks to small adventure holidays with friends, Devon is ideal for it all. The county is situated in South-West England and is located on the coast, allowing you to benefit from stunning scenery and glistening beaches. No matter where you are planning on visiting, if you truly want to enhance your experience, you should consider campervan hire. This will really increase the fun of your holiday and provide you with a unique experience. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover the benefits of hiring a campervan for your stay…

Save a significant amount of money
One of the main benefits associated with campervan hire is the fact that you will save a substantial amount of money. You will be able to have a fantastic holiday without spending a lot of cash. This is something that appeals to many people. After all, a lot of families had to give up their vacations because of the dreaded recession. Yet, a campervan holiday offers the ideal solution, as you have accommodation and transport in one.

Convenient
Convenience is another benefit you will gain. Most campervan hire companies will drop off your vehicle at a location to suit you. They will also pick it up from your desired location as well. This makes your life a lot easier, as you need not worry about how you are going to get to your accommodation.

Enjoy a real outdoor adventure
Devon is definitely a place for those who love the outdoors. Thus, a campervan matches this type of holiday perfectly. Whilst in your campervan you will definitely feel close to nature and the magic of what Devon has to offer.

Complete freedom
In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, one of the key advantages associated with campervan hire is the fact that you will have complete freedom to plan your holiday as you wish. You can explore the place you are visiting exactly as you want. Make as many stops as you like and go to whatever attraction you desire. You don’t have to worry about sticking to a specific itinerary, as you would if you want for a different option. After all, if you stayed in a hotel your day would have to be planned around the restaurant opening times to ensure you don’t miss out on the meals you have paid for.

Insurance included
Another benefit of hiring a campervan is that you will often get all of the extras included. This can include the likes of insurance as well as any repairs or servicing that you may need for your journey. Of course, if an accident does happen while you are in your campervan, your legal concerns are in good hands with Hupy and Abraham. A company like this will be able to advise and guide you.

Choice of campervans
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking a campervan holiday is limited. They envisage being crammed into a tiny campervan and having no room. However, this is definitely not the case. If you take a look online you will see that you have a wealth of different options to choose from. This ensures you find a campervan that fits in with your requirements and the size of your party. Moreover, there is a wealth of different features for you to choose from as well. This includes luxury amenities, such as a television.

When you consider all of the points that have been mentioned, it is not difficult to see why renting a camper van comes highly recommended if you are planning on spending a vacation anywhere in the world. The only thing you need to do now is find the best campervan for you, so make sure you assess your options carefully.

*contributed post*
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